Portable air conditioner



'Oct. 15,' 1940. w. B. HARRIS PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER Filed June 2,1938

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 65 3 WALTER a. HARRIS INVENTOR.

O 1940- B. HARRIS IQRTABLE AIR CONDITIONER Filed June 2, 1938 3 Shqets5he0.t 2

WALTE ames 1N VE/V TOR.

A TTORNEY Oct. 15.1940. w. B. HARRIS ,2 9

PDRIABLE AIR GOfiDII'IONBR Filed June 2. 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 \IVALTEJ?- B.HARRIS' INVENTORY g BY ATTORNEY Patented a. 15, 1940 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE romance AIR CONDITIONER. Walter 1:. Harris, Bayside, Long ay. Y. Application June 2, 1938, Serial No. 211,318

3 Claims.

air heating element and improved silent means causing the air to be moistened by passing through three spray zones of mistlike form inside a casing.

Another object of this invention is to increase the efiiciency of the self-contained air' conditioner by. directing the air current therethrough in such a manner as to absorb and entrain a maximum quantity of moisture.

Another object of this invention is to provide adjustable means for varying the spray zone areas and to provide a visual indication of the intensity of humidification.

Another object of this invention is to provide separate fans for the circulation of the air, a,

lower fan causing a suction at the spray zones and an upper fan causing pressure discharge of the humidified air through an air cleaner and through a heating element.

Another object of this invention is to agitate the air and mist after passing through the spray zones, so as to increase the intermixture of the air and mi'sts.

Another object of this invention is to make the air conditioning mechanism including the m0- tor, fans, pumping unit, pump controls, heating element, air cleaner, grill, electric connections and the cover, removable as a unit from the outer casing and ,basir for cleaning purposes.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described, and the combination and arrangement of parts willbe shown in the acoompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims which form part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate cor- -responding parts throughout the several views,

in which: 1

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred 'form of air conditioner.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the air conditioner, the section being taken as on line 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a preferred type of pump for the air conditioner.

Figure 4 is a vertical elevation of the pump. Figure 5 is a vertical elevation of the pump partly broken away to show the inner structure.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary bottom view of the pump.

Figure 7 shows a fragmentary portion of the lower end of the pump, on an enlarged scale.

v Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sec- 5 tional view of the air conditioner showing the spray regulator set for humidifying fifty per cent of the air passing through the air conditioner.

Figure 9 is a sectional 'planview of the spray 1 forming portionof the air conditioner, the section being taken as on line 9-8 in Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the air conditioner showing the spray regulator, shown in Figures 2 and 8, in 5 closed position.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the air conditioner showing a-spray shield.

In the illustrated embodiment of the inven- 2 tion, the numeral Ill indicates the portable air conditioner comprising a. casing I I having louvers I2 in its sides. A tubular member iii of smaller cross-section than thecasing H, has been semember I3 and has a fan l9 secured at the lower portion of the motor shaft 20. A fan 2| has been secured to the upper end of the motor shaft.

' A pump 22 has been secured at the lower end of the shaft "and is immersed in the liquid I1. 40

The pump 22, best shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5,

comprises an outer casing 25 having bosses 26 at its upper end. The pump casing 25 is secured to a spray disk 21 having a hub 28 secured to the shaft 20. The lower end of the casing 25 5 has a lip 29 of spiral formation. The disk 21 has an internally threaded lower hub 30 serving to receive a threaded stem 3| of a spirally threaded cone 32. The thread 33 extends from the lower to the upper ends of the cone 32 and is substan- 50 tially in contact with the inner surface of the pump casing 25. The lowermost end of the thread 33 starts at the lowermost tip of the lip 29 of the numncasing2i. The lip 29 encloses the lowermost end .of the thread a: which projects from a horizontal bottom 35 of .the casing thereby forming a scoop travels to the periphery of the disk 21 from which it is thrown by centrifugal force in the form of a spray against the inner surface of the cylindrical member and against the inner surface of the casing. It is to be noted that the level at which the water leaves the disk 21 is in line with the lower edge of the cylindrical member.

, The lower fan i9 is designed to cause an air suction upwardly into the cylindrical member E3. The blades of the upper fan 2| have a greater pitch than the blades of the lower fan l9 so that it is adapted to pick up the moving air from the fan I9 and further increase the velocity of the air stream. The fan ill draws air through the louvers. l2 and through the passages l5 and IS.

The air suction lifts the lighter spray particles upwards and into contactwith the inner surface of the cylindrical member I 3 forming a spray curtain 38 across the horizontal bottom opening 39 of the member l3.

The heavier spray particles tend to drop as they leave the disk 21 and come into contact with the inner surface of the casing ll, forming a heavier spray curtain 40 over the annular crosssectional area of the duct l5.

It is tofbe noted that the liquid spray particles contacting the inner surface of the cylindrical member l3 condense on the cylindrical walls thereof and fall down in the form of a cylindrical shower curtain 4| through which'the incoming air must pass. There has thus been provided three spray zones 38, 40 and 4!.

The blades of the suction fan is revolving in the air and entrained mist inside the stationary tubular member l3 creates a whirling motion and the blades of the fan I! agitate the air' and mist causing the mixture to be broken up into finer particles thus increasing the intermixture.

The outer periphery of the motor I8 is much smaller than the inner periphery of the tubular member i3 providing an annular passage upwards around the motor. The motor 18 is secured to the tubular member l3 by radial braces 48 which also function to break up the upward whirling motion of the air and causing turbulence in the humidified air stream. The fan 2| propels the humidified air upwards through a dry spun glass air cleaner 4! and through an electric heater 48 having horizontally positioned heating elements 49, 49. and then through an opening 50 at the top of the cylindrical member I3. The fan 2| serves to remove entrained particles of free liquid from the humidified air. The dry spun glass air cleaner 4! is constructed to provide interstices between adjacent fibres of glass. The humidified air from the fan 2| passes through the dry cleane'r 41 and any remaining wet foreign matter in the humidified air is deposited upon the said cleaner.

The heater 48 and the electricmotor l8 may be provided with electric current by means of electric wiring 5| and an electric plug 52 which may be connected to any supply of electric current. The heater may be connected to a source of electric current supply independent of the electric current supply'to the motor. During cool 38, 40 and 4|.

. identified by the numeral 66 is directed downward er are operated simultaneously, to remove the excess moisture from the air. During hot, dry weather the heater is shut off.

As shown in Figure 2, there has been provided a spray regulator 55 comprising a dished member 58 of slightly larger diameter than the pump disk 21. The dished member 56 has an integral extension 51 which is hinged at 58 to the lower end portion of the cylindrical member l3. The dished member 56 has an aperture centrally thereof of larger diameter than the motor shaft to permit tilting of the member 56 about the hinge 58.

An arm '59 integral with the member 56. and positioned diametrically opposite the extension 51 has its freeend hingedly connected to a vertical rod 69. The rod 60 extends upwardly through the top of the air conditioner l0, and has a knob 6| at the upper end thereof. Notches 62 at the upper end of the rod 60 make it possible for the operator to grasp the knob 6! and move the rod up or down so as to cover or uncover the disk 2] and thus control the spray zone areas and the intensity of humidification.

The operator may, byinterlocking one of the notches 62 with the cover plate, vary the angular position of the member 58 with relation to the disk 21 of the pump 22 to provide the required humidification of the air being conditioned. It is to be noted that the operator may adjust the dished member 56 so as to entirely out off and eliminate the spraycurtains in the air passages.

The disk 21 of the pump 22 is shown as in dished form. This dish-shape permits a quantity of water to collect therein until it reaches the upper elevation of the dish when the water, under the action of centrifugal force, overflows and leaves the dish in a continuous spray.

It is to be noted that by providing two fans in series on the motor shaft but in spaced relation on opposite sides of the motor and with the discharge fan having blades of greater pitchthan the suction fan and both fans within a tubular casing forming a tunnel of slightly larger diameter than the outer diameters of thefans, that with these fans, arranged as shown, it is possible to discharge the equivalent amount of air normally requiring a relatively larger fan which would increase the size of the air conditioner.

As shown in Figure 2, I have provided a bathplate 65 located centrally of the casing and fixed thereto. The baffle-plate serves to prevent swirling of the water in the basin ll.

Figures 8 and 9 show the spray regulator ll set in angular relation with the pump disk 21 so as to extend below one-half of the upper peripheral edge of the disk. This position of thespray regulator cuts oil the spray from onehorizontal position over the disk 21 of the pump 22. It will be noted that this horizontal position of the spray regulator 55 cuts off all the sprays The spray leaving the disk 21 and and returns to the liquid storage basin II, in the form of heavy drops without-passing through the incoming air. The air is thus not humidified or washed but is dry cleaned by passing through ,the dry air cleaner 4'! and may be heated by the heater 48.

(I or damp weather conditions, the motor and heat- Figure 11 showsa spray shield 61 of cylindrical fl form and having apertures 68, 68 at its lower elevation. The spray shield 51 may be secured to the bottom plate of the casing and preferably extends upwardly slightly above the bottom edge of the spray regulator 55 when in horizontal position. The top edge ofthe spray shield 61 is slightly below the top edge of the disk 21. The spray shield 61 is used for positively preventing any of the spray 66 returning to the basin,from being thrown out into the air passage Hi.

When the spray regulator 55 is raised into angular position, as shown in Figure 8, the bottom edge 69 of the regulator 55 rises and permits the spray to leave the disk 21 and function in a manner corresponding to the disclosures in Figures 8 and 9;

A float I has an indicator at its upper end.

This indicator is seen through an opening II in the casing II and indicates the level of the liquid in the basin l7.

In accordance .with the patent statutes I have described and illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood that various changes and modifications can be.

made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended I claim: I

1. In an air conditioner having an air passage of substantially constant cross-sectional area and means for forming a spray curtain, upright cylindrical baflle means for subdividing said spray curtain into lighter and heavier spray curtains positioned in spaced relation across said passage, a motor mounted vertically in said cylindricai baflle means, upper and lower fans secured in spaced relation at opposite endsof the motorshaft, the blades of said upper fan being of greater pitch than the blades of said lower fan, an adjustable spray regulating means for controlling the areas of said spray curtains, said spray regulating means being designed to gradually cut off the area of said spray curtains and the humidification area of said air passage. 2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein means is'provided intermediate said fans to cause turbulence in the humidified air stream.

3. In an air conditioner comprising an upright casing having louvers in its sides, an upright cylindrical baflle mounted centrally of said casing, the lower edge of said cylindrical baflie being in spaced relation above the bottom of said casing, the walls of said cylindrical baflle and said casing being in parallel relation, a liquid storage chamber in the lower portion of said casing, a. pump immersed in said liquid and comprising a spray discharging disk at its upper elevation, said disk being at the level of the lower edge of said cylindrical baflle, said disk being adapted for said cylindrical baille, a portion of said spray being deflected by said cylindrical baflle in an upward direction, a portion of said spray forming a heavy spray curtain passing across the cross-sectional area between said casing and said cylindrical baiiie, a' portion of said spray forming an upright cylindrical shower curtain falling downwardly from said cylindrical baiile walls, said air conditioner comprising an air duct positioned so as to cause the incoming air to pass through all said sprays, an adjustable spray regulating means for controlling the areas of said sprays, said spray regulating means being in coacting relation with said pump. disk and being designed to gradually enclose and cut off the area of said sprays and the humidification area of said air passage, and motor driven fans in spaced and superposed relation in said cylindrical baille for circulating air through said air conditioner. 1

WALTER B. HARRIS.

throwing a spray against the inner surface of 

